In support of education for Filipinos, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), in partnership with Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP), recently turned over Silid Pangarap preschool classrooms in three public schools: Lourdes Elementary School in Tarlac, Sta. Teresita Elementary School in Pampanga and Asis Elementary School in Cavite. The new structures are part of GBF’s commitment to construct 18 two-classroom preschool buildings called Silid Pangarap with AGAPP, a non-government organization dedicated to improving programs for underprivileged Filipino pre-school children.

“We’re very grateful for the opportunity to help the preschoolers in public schools. By funding these Silid Pangarap classrooms, we hope to cater to the more immediate needs of children in their primary level of education,” shared JG Summit Holdings Inc. President and COO and GBF Treasurer Lance Gokongwei at the turnover event. Also present at the event were GBF General Manager Lisa Gokongwei, AGAPP President Pinky Aquino-Abellada, AGAPP Executive Director Gel Caguioa, AGAPP Directors Feny delos Angeles Bautista and Eddie Galvez, and employees of Robinsons Homes and Robinsons Malls. To show their appreciation, the student beneficiaries presented heartwarming musical performances. After the signing of the memorandum of agreement, the academic partners gave a golden key to GBF, which signifies the coming together of the three sectors of society – private, public and NGO.

AGAPP President Pinky Aquino-Abellada expressed her gratitude to the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation for partnering with them to build more schoolhouses. “Kahit na nagnenegosyo sila, di pa rin sila nakakalimot na tumulong sa kapwa nila. Mabuhay ang Gokongwei Brothers Foundation,” shared Abellada in her speech. “My father is a firm believer that good crops sprout only from good seed. Investing in this project is really based on a love of learning with the hope that tomorrow will be a brighter world for our children,” says Gokongwei.

AGAPP Foundation worked with the Department of Education and the local government units in selecting schools that would benefit most from the program and addressing their needs. The GBF donations financed the construction of the schoolhouses, instruction materials and school supplies, and teacher training, a critical part of the AGAPP program. “We do not just build the structure, we train the teachers as well and send them to at least two AGAPP-conducted workshops on modern methods of Early Childhood Education. That way we ensure that the benefits of the program are far reaching and effective,” says AGAPP Executive Director Gel Caguioa.

Started in 1992, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) was established with the purpose of improving the socio-economic condition of Filipinos through educational programs. Among its projects include the Technical Training Center for skilled graduates in various engineering fields, a donation to the Ateneo de Manila University known as the John Gokongwei School of Management, a donation to De La Salle University School of Engineering and scholarships to China.